Healing Through Food
“We’re giving people tools to care for themselves and their families. That’s a different kind of strength.”
Across the country, there’s growing recognition that food is more than just nourishment – it’s healthcare. At the Jewish Community Pantry, that truth is seen every day. Guests often arrive not only in need of food, but also managing chronic health conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes. In response, the Pantry launched Food is Medicine, a new initiative that transforms emergency food assistance into a tool for long-term wellness.
“We’ve always provided food in times of crisis,” says Pantry Director Heidi Gould, “but with Food is Medicine, we’re becoming part of the long-term solution to chronic health challenges. We’re helping our guests live stronger, healthier lives.”
The idea took root after Heidi watched the first U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food is Medicine Summit in January 2024. The summit highlighted how evidence-based nutrition interventions – when paired with healthcare systems – can significantly reduce chronic disease in low-income communities.
That message hit home. Of the 22,000 individuals served annually by the Pantry, 90% identify as Black or African American, and 30% are older adults – two populations at higher risk for chronic illness. The three Milwaukee ZIP codes the Pantry serves also rank “low” on the Health Equity Index, underscoring deep, systemic barriers to health. For many guests, access to nutritious, medically appropriate food isn’t just limited – it’s nearly out of reach.
“Our guests are doing their best with very limited resources,” Heidi explains. “Many rely on us not just for food, but for support that matches their health needs. We knew we could do more.”
With a generous grant from the Froedtert Community Investment Fund and in partnership with Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Pantry launched a pilot program that delivers more than groceries. Froedtert nurses screen participants, conduct monthly check-ins, and lead classes on nutrition, hypertension, and stress management. Dietitians helped adapt meal plans – initially based on NIH and Mayo Clinic guidance – to better reflect the real-life needs and limitations of Pantry guests.
Participants receive healthy recipes and ingredients each month, along with education about the DASH diet, stress reduction, and lifestyle changes to support long-term health. Another key partner is Bonim Farms at the Albert & Ann Deshur JCC Rainbow Day Camp, which supplies hundreds of containers of herbs and spices each month, helping guests flavor meals without relying on sodium. “We’re giving people tools to care for themselves and their families. That’s a different kind of strength.”
Food is Medicine builds on the Jewish Community Pantry’s nearly 50-year mission to serve Milwaukeeans in crisis. It’s a reflection of what it means to move from strength to strength – evolving from emergency response to preventative care, and from service to systemic impact.
